Derrick Henry could easily make more NFL history on Sunday

- As Derrick Henry's 2023 season, and possibly his Tennessee Titans career, comes to a close over the next couple weeks, he will have ample opportunity to make history.

Henry could easily make more NFL history on Sunday and surpass another milestone with a solid rushing performance against the Houston Texans.

The 29-year-old running back is 28 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown away from another 1,000-yard, 12 touchdown season. That would make Henry just the fourth running back in history to have five career seasons reaching those marks.

Historic Company

Joining the exclusive company of Shaun Alexander, Emmitt Smith, and LaDainian Tomlinson with a career milestone is a serious achievement. Alexander, Smith, and Tomlinson are currently the only running backs in NFL history with five or more seasons of 1,000 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns.

Adrian Peterson didn't do it. Eric Dickerson didn't do it. Barry Sanders didn't do it. Neither did Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Earl Campbell, or Terrell Davis.

Henry would have already joined that club and would be on the brink of posting 1,000 yards with 12 TDs for the sixth consecutive season had he not been injured for the second half of the season in 2021. Henry had 937 rushing yards and 10 TDs through eight games that year. 

There is still a lot of unknown surrounding Henry's future with the Titans. He will be an unrestricted free agent agent after the season, but has not ruled out the possibility of returning to Music City. 

My assumption is that Tennessee will want to give more volume to Tyjae Spears in 2024 and transform their offense a little bit. It would surprise me if Henry returned, but it's not impossible to picture a world where he has a supporting role on the 2024 team.

Either way, Titans fans need to operate as if the next two weeks are the last times you will ever see King Henry play football in the two-tone blue. Savor every last carry and root for all the records you can think of.